Michaels Organization Educational Foundation Awards $500K

By Dees Stribling, Contributing Editor

Marlton, N.J.—The Michaels Organization Educational Foundation has announced its scholarship distributions for 2014. The foundation, a nonprofit affiliate of multifamily specialist The Michaels Organization (a group of eight privately held companies), gives college scholarships each year to aspiring students who live in the properties owned or managed by the companies.

Monies will go to 184 individuals this year, totaling more than $500,000 for the first time (in 2013, the total awarded was about $450,000). The 2014 recipients include a brother and sister whose parents fled the Afghan civil war in 1992, a disabled Vietnam veteran, and an honor student athlete whose career ambition is to be a doctor in the U.S. Army.

The foundation awards scholarships to residents across Michaels’ nationwide portfolio, which consists of 360 properties across 34 states, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Residents of the seven military bases where Michaels owns or manages housing are also eligible to apply. This year, 48 residents of Michaels Military Housing received scholarships.

Created by Michael Levitt, founder and CEO of The Michaels Organization, the foundation has been awarding scholarships to high achieving but often economically disadvantaged students for more than 20 years. The grants can be used by recipients to pay tuition costs at any accredited college, university, or vocational training program in the country, and students can reapply for grants each year of their education.

To qualify, an applicant must be a high school graduate or have earned a GED with a grade point average of 2.5; college students must maintain a grade point average of 2.3. All applications are reviewed by independent educational consultant Bruce Johnson, who has been involved with the program since its inception. The program has helped non-traditional and older students with their educational pursuits as well, including grad school.